Do you know what normal people do when they are left alone? They watch movies, make soup, and pet their dogs. I, on the other hand, rearrange my entire apartment on a daily basis. In fact, just yesterday I woke up and realized the that my bedroom needed a little bit of attention. So naturally I spent the next three hours rearranging the top of my dresser (which is ugly, by the way, needs to be lacquered in a hip color but I can’t decided what). Below are the results of my playtime.

Here is what the top of my dresser looked like before:

Here’s what that same surface looked like after I went crazy rearranging it and spray painting that little filing thing gold. To be honest, I have no idea if it’s any better than it was before. But rearranging it made my life feel more meaningful. Which is something I’d talk to my therapist about if I had one.

I love this Yoshitomo Nara toy (on the left). For the most part I tried to stick with aqua, green, white, and gold. You know, because normal all guys have color-coordinated accessories on top of their dressers.

This is a little table I have in my bedroom. It belonged to my great-great-great-great grandmother, who got the wood to make it from George Washington when he cut down that cherry tree. Or something. Anyhonk, this is what it looked like before I changed it:

And here is what it looks like now:

Impressive, right? [Insert cricket noise]

You know, I have to admit that restyling these surfaces made me realize that I like nicknacks a little bit too much. All I want to do all day is stare at beautiful, interesting objects. And books. I’m also obsessed with things like my Whole Earth Catalogue, which I stare at every day while I fantasize about living in the 60s (which by the way I could never do because I hate body hair and flared pants).

Yes, I moved that ceramic spherical sculpture by my friend Suzanne so I could stare at it in the morning. Sometimes I give it a little kiss to let it know how much I care.

11 Responses to What I Do When I’m Left Alone (I’m Scared)

I also do the cricket noise in those awkward moments -in my case- of extreme shallowness, when I dwell too much on things that I realize have no real transcendence and yet I’m talking about them…I also have the BLINK-BLINK when I suddenly realize that what I’m saying makes no sense…I think I watch too many cartoons!!
My house looks like a museum/antique store (not because I’ve got valuable stuff…I wish!) but because NOTHING EVER MOVES…unless I buy something new then I rearrange…and you know, about the therapy A.R.T., my blog, is my therapist, blogs are good listeners!! jajajaaa was that too weird to say?! btw I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again…your posts ALWAYS make me smile (but in the inside I’m really laughing!!)

I used to do the same thing before I decided to go minimal. Now its about where, EXACTLY, on the fireplace mantle does that lone wooden sculpture go. Hehe. As to your dresser, I love it like it is as well (see Lauren’s comment), but, if you must, and I know its blasé, aqua or seafoam would be nice.

Please take this as a compliment, but your afters really remind me of my maternal grandparent’s home. The brass alligator and seaside picture and books? Oh my. I like it. Very nice vintage/warm/homey (or homme-y) feel. 🙂

I kind of love the dresser and could see it in a dark, shiny midnight blue and change the color of the drawer pulls. Or orange – but it would be a lot harder to work into rooms when you’re in the rearrange mode.